CEBU CITY -- Seven barangay captains in Lapu-Lapu City were arrested on charges of oral defamation that City Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan filed against them.
Arrested by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas were Bankal Brgy. Captain Eduardo Cuizon, Gun-ob Brgy. Captain Eleonor Fontanoza, Looc Brgy. Captain Regina Ybañez, Tungasan Brgy. Captain Tripona Abayan, Subabasbas Brgy. Captain Joselito Tibon, Canjulao Brgy. Captain Reynaldo Tampus and Maribago Brgy. Captain Rosalino Abing.
They were arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Anna Marie Militante of 7th Judicial Region, Branch 53, in Lapu-Lapu.
A bail of P36,000 was set for each of the arrested captains.
It was last March 15 when Chan filed charges of grave oral defamation allegedly committed by the seven Barangay captains, who are allied with former City Mayor Paz Radaza.
The barangay captains accused the mayor of not complying with the requirements set by the Commission on Audit when the city procured items for its Covid-19 response.
Chan won over Radaza in the May 9 elections.
Chan said the arrest should serve as a lesson for government officials not to resort to mudslinging.
“It’s a lesson learned for them. They allowed themselves to be used for the sake of politics,” said Chan, adding that the accusations hurled against him were baseless.